Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Followers of the Forgotten God (9)
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Kadim advanced without hesitation into the dim passage.
Thud, thud—
The Atalain warriors followed meekly in his wake, their steps hesitant. They had realized that all the martial prowess they'd honed their entire lives couldn't even graze his heels. It was only natural.
Yet Perun refused to back down, sticking close behind Kadim.
"Brother, that was truly an impressive technique... Surely the Father of the Wilderness is applauding from the heavens above. I didn't see it during the subjugation operation—did you acquire that weapon recently?"
"......"
"Ah, don't misunderstand. I'm not coveting it at all. A weapon that magnificent shines brightest in the hands of a warrior like you."
Kadim's sharp gaze softened. He'd been ready to split the man's skull if he demanded the weapon outright like that subjugation captain had. At least this warrior had a functioning brain.
With no reply forthcoming, Perun prattled on alone—wondering why the followers of the Forgotten God were in a place like this, admitting he hadn't expected them to wield such sorcery, and so on.
Then, at some point, he lowered his voice and asked,
"Kadim, brother, I have something to ask you."
"......?"
"Have you... ever been to the wilderness beyond the mountains?"
"......Why do you ask that all of a sudden?"
Perun hesitated. He'd seen a vision of Kadim standing proudly in the barren wilderness before. Should he ask if it rang any bells?
But the vision hadn't ended well. The image of Kadim's flesh tearing open, something blood-red bursting forth, was still vivid. It wasn't wise to mention an ominous vision before battle.
So Perun brushed it off vaguely and changed the subject.
"......Kadim, brother, the orders we received from the councilor weren't just to subdue the rampaging mercenaries. You're aware that your name, the 'Demon Slayer,' has spread far and wide around here?"
Kadim shot him a sidelong glance. Perun continued cautiously.
Rumors of you mercilessly slaughtering demons on the Golden Highway had spread. It reached the ears of our ally, the Agon faction councilor. They've ordered us to bring you to them. They're surely plotting to recruit you into Atala's forces...
"Of course, it would be an honor for us to fight alongside an exceptional warrior like you. But... from what I've seen, you don't strike me as someone who would submit to a place like this, no matter how I think about it. That's why I'm worried. The councilors aren't all bad, but... they're rulers who spare no means or methods to achieve their goals, so I wanted to warn you to be careful."
It was sincere advice, but Kadim let it go in one ear and out the other. He couldn't avoid clashing with those politicians anyway. As mentioned earlier, he planned to kill 'Agon's Furious Horn,' the leader of the Atalain warriors.
'When I meet them, I'll squeeze out the subjugation reward and ignore the rest...'
Thinking that, Kadim changed the subject.
"How's that arm that got severed? If you don't want metal poisoning to kill you, you should ditch that hook."
"Ah, it's fine. I've taken care of it."
Perun removed the hook hand and showed his forearm. The bone protruded awkwardly, but the stump had healed almost perfectly.
Kadim eyed it suspiciously. No matter how strong one's recovery was, it couldn't heal like that in just over a month. This was impossible without a wilderness shaman's elixir or a priest of Elga's healing.
Perun hesitated before speaking.
"S-Sorry. I can't tell you what treatment I used... I swore to keep it secret. But if you ever suffer a major injury, come to me. I can help you out at least once..."
Kadim waved it off dismissively. He was just curious how it had healed. With the Blood Ghost's vampiric effect and the hydra tattoo, he had no need for trivial healing.
Ahead, the passage ended. A sturdy stone door blocked the way instead of a wall. He couldn't pinpoint the exact aura, but Kadim sensed something deeply ominous beyond it.
So he told the warriors,
"You lot stay behind."
"......"
Their faces stiffened as if doused with cold water.
If he said they wouldn't be any help here, they'd probably cry out, 'Then brother, accept Atala's divine relic and shatter your body in battle!' and throw a fit. Kadim swept back his hair and added in a weary tone,
"Instead, set up layered encirclements from here to the entrance so no enemies can slip out. If they escape, I might not catch them. That would help me greatly."
"......!"
As expected, the warriors raised their spears and curved swords, proclaiming, 'Gladly, we obey your command, great brother,' and 'Glory to the master of endless battlefields and feasts,' before obediently withdrawing. Kadim regretted not doing this sooner, feeling a hollow sigh escape him.
"Please be careful, Kadim brother. May Atala watch over your blade."
With Perun's farewell, all the warriors left. Alone now, Kadim steadied his breath and pushed the stone door.
Rumble, rumbllle...
Beyond the door lay darkness.
A sticky, viscous, thick, seething darkness.
Just one stone door made all the difference from outside. Instead of bricks and slabs, the space was wallpapered in pitch-black slime. Bubbling and squelching echoes made it feel like stepping into the gut of some rotting behemoth.
Gurgle, glurk, grrrgle...
No light source bigger than a grain of salt, yet Kadim pierced the gloom.
Half-submerged torsos protruded from walls and floor like shade-loving mushrooms, clustered tightly. Black masks covered every face, making identification impossible. But some body shapes screamed Ilenia's clones. This must be their production workshop.
At the center loomed a black tumor-like altar. Before it stood one figure, fully exposing upper and lower body.
A man in a crow mask and black hood.
"Welcome, Demon Slayer. You've arrived at the sanctuary that will become the new cornerstone of the Forgotten God's cult."
The mastermind behind all the cadres, the bishop of the 'Nightcrow Sect.'
A thick vein bulged on Kadim's forehead. The bishop steepled his hands leisurely and spoke.
"Honestly, I was shocked... When you said you'd 'slaughter every human in this city to find us,' I thought it was just bluster to intimidate. But to think you'd actually butcher people indiscriminately and track us down... Your obsession and malice are beyond words."
"......"
"Still, thanks to you, I've regained my certainty. You... will surely bring greater calamity to this world than any demon. It's a relief we can kill you before the true disaster unfolds..."
"What exactly gives you that certainty?"
Kadim finally voiced the question that had nagged him all day. The bishop slowly covered the mask's eyes with both hands, mimicking a silver coin's pattern, and intoned gravely,
"'Revelation.'"
"......"
"Twenty years ago, the Forgotten God bestowed a 'revelation' upon us. But the other sect bishops all misinterpreted it. Only I, the one who could see the truth's darkness amid the chaotic lights! Only I pierced the god's true intent. The Forgotten God surely declared you the 'Source of Calamity' who would unleash great disaster!"
"......"
A chill settled in Kadim's eyes.
Ah, so that's it. Just another brain-fried zealot, as expected. I'm suffering like this because of that fool's delusions. The Arch Paladin I'd met before spouted similar nonsense—why do all fanatics spew that crap at me?
Fortunately, Kadim knew the perfect cure for fanaticism.
Slashslashslashslashslash—crack—smash!
The wavy axe cleaved hand and mask, splitting the face vertically. Black slime sprayed out, and the bishop lolled out a split tongue before melting into a gooey puddle.
Whoosh, swing, swing, swing, swing—thunk!
As expected, a clone. Forewarned, Kadim wasn't surprised. As he retrieved the axe, another bishop clone burst from the sticky floor. Simultaneously, a body sprawled atop the altar.
The ninth gate guard captain kidnapped that morning.
"Don't act rashly, Demon Slayer! Your companions' lives are still in our hands! If you don't want to see his head roll, drop your weapon and toss the fallen nation's silver coins this way..."
"Didn't I say to lop off his head and feed the rest to the dogs? Why haven't you?"
"......"
Undisguisable panic crossed the clone's masked face.
"......Aren't you here to rescue your companions? That wasn't just talk? Then why come all the way here..."
Slashslashslashslash—crack—smash!
"This is why."
Another bishop clone's mask and skull shattered on the axe blade. It had plenty of experience teaching barbarians that petty threats didn't work.
Gurgle, glurk...
The black-fleshed altar writhed, swallowing the guard captain's body again. Clones embedded in walls and floor erupted from the slime en masse, roaring.
""Damn it, charge! Seize the holy relic, take his life! We must judge this arrogant Source of Calamity!""
Ordering itself around—what a rare sight. Kadim curled one lip and readily raised his blade.
Swoosh—smash, crunch!
A red arc surged, engulfing the incoming clone. The sword crushed its forearm, tore the ribcage, burrowed deep, and finally shredded the entire upper body into rags. The clone spewed black blood and guts, tumbling in pathetic ruin.
""Grrraaah!""
Thrust—! Whoosh, smash—crack!
Sword through the eye with his right, axe reclaimed to burst the skull with his left. The ruptured eyeball popped like spoiled grapes, spilling inky vitreous humor; the shattered cranium splattered muddy, sticky black residue everywhere. The two headless clones bubbled and dissolved.
""Judgment upon the Demon Slayer!""
Ilenia's clones gripped daggers in reverse grips and charged. Kadim twisted his waist slightly, coiling power into his limbs. As keen blades neared his nose, he uncoiled, thrusting his sword far to draw a vast sword arc.
Creeeak—slash!
""GRRRRAAAHHH!!""
Bodies sliced like layered meat, collapsing at once. Black blood whipped through the air, bellies and chests split open as clones crumpled limply. Without pause, Kadim raised his sword again, impassively carving through more.
No matter the numbers, they were scarecrows before a true warrior. Splashing blood, spilling entrails, rolling limbs... mangled corpses piled up, sinking back into the slime. Like waves shattering on rocks.
Kadim furrowed his brow. The bishop knew this was futile. The intent to stall was obvious. He had to find and slaughter the real body before some scheme unfolded...
Then, a black hole tore open in the ceiling.
Hummmm...
A massive shadow plummeted from the darkness beyond.
——Boom!
"Grrraaah!!"
The slime floor cratered, nearby clones crushed underfoot. Ignoring it, the fallen monstrosity raised razor claws.
—Kaaaak! Kaaaaak!
Unmistakably crow-shaped, yet far from ordinary. A beak gleaming like a black spike. Wings spanning wall-to-wall. Flesh of sticky slime, feathers of rigid shards. Rows of 'fallen nation's silver coins' embedded like iron rings from throat to chest.
Most bizarre: a man's upper body protruding from the nape, wearing a crow mask.
Instinct screamed: that was the bishop's true body.
"At last... the Forgotten God's loyal talon, the 'Beast of Darkness,' descends here. Bow your head beneath its claws and humbly accept death, Demon Slayer!"
So saying, the bishop spurred the crow beast.
Thud! Hummmm...
A huge hole ripped open below, and everything in the space plummeted at once.
Rumblerumble...
Flesh waterfall of slime and clones pouring down. The pit's bottom invisible. The sealed chamber instantly became a plummeting abyss.
Slime receded, exposing hard walls. Kadim jammed his sword in and clung, barely avoiding the fall. Suddenly, Ilenia's words from before echoed in his mind.
'...If a priest of the Forgotten God gets hold of those silver coins, they can wield dark holy arts. ...Summoning powerful beasts, warping space strangely...'
...So this was it.
The holy art's power exceeded expectations. A beast and large-scale miracle worthy of summoning a high-grade 'mystical species' demon. No wonder the coins were holy relics.
And then this thought arose—ironically similar to the bishop's words minutes ago.
'Good thing I can kill him before he gathers more relics and unleashes the real disaster...'
—Kak! Kaaaaak!
The crow beast spread claws and lunged. Obsidian-honed talons gleamed menacingly. No way he could face that monster barehanded.
So Kadim focused his mind.
Woooom—
On the sheer cliff of pitch black, vivid crimson flared.
Flames kindled in his dark pupils.
Blood qi surged from the chest tattoo, flooding his body. The berserker roared a war cry, leaping from the wall.
"HRRAAAAAHHH!!"
—Kak! Kak!
————Cra—sh!
The red warrior's and black beast's shadows clashed ferociously midair.